100 Years of Pinotage: From Experiment to Icon

Pinotage - The Birth of the South African Grape Variety

The story of Pinotage began in 1924 with a groundbreaking experiment by Professor Abraham Izak Perold, a pioneering viticulturist at Stellenbosch University. Perold sought a grape that combined the elegance of Pinot Noir with the robustness of Cinsaut. On November 17, 1924, this crossing took place, and in 1925, Perold planted the seeds of his experiment – the official birth year of Pinotage.

When Perold took a position at KWV in Paarl in 1928, he left the seedlings behind. Thanks to the keen eye of young academic Dr. Charlie Niehaus, the Pinotage plants were saved during a cleanup at Welgevallen Farm. Niehaus replanted the seedlings in Stellenbosch, ensuring the survival of this soon-to-be-iconic South African grape.

Though Pinotage was saved, the path to commercial success was not smooth. The potential of the grape was uncovered in 1935 with appropriate rootstock, allowing for growth. The first real breakthrough came in 1941 when CT de Waal produced the very first Pinotage wine.

In the 1940s, Pinotage gradually began to establish itself. The first commercial plantings occurred in 1943, and in 1949, the variety was discovered by Gerrit Nieuwoudt, who became an early advocate after tasting an experimental Pinotage.

Key Wineries in Pinotage Production

The 1950s were a decade of growth and promise for Pinotage. Key wineries like Uiterwyk, Bellevue, and Kanonkop began planting Pinotage, establishing themselves as essential players in the development of the variety. A significant breakthrough occurred in 1959 and 1961, when Bellevue and Kanonkop won the prestigious General Smuts Trophy.

In 1964, the grape made its international debut when the New Zealand winery Corbans produced the first vintage of Pinotage. Despite some criticism claiming "Pinotage has no future," the grape proved its resilience.

In the late 1970s, Pinotage made its way to California, where Dick Steltzner planted vines in 1978, and a growing number of South African wineries began producing Pinotage wines.

The 1980s and 1990s marked the golden age of recognition for Pinotage. Beyers Truter of Kanonkop became a leading proponent, winning the prestigious Diners Club Winemaker of the Year Award in 1987.

The Triumph of Pinotage

As Pinotage’s reputation grew, so did its global spread. In the 1990s, the grape was planted in Virginia and Canada. The Pinotage Association was formed in 1995, and the first Pinotage Top 10 Competition occurred in 1997.

In the new millennium, Pinotage continued expanding its influence. In 2001, the first Pinotage was produced in Israel.

By 2020, Pinotage achieved another milestone with the Grand Pinotage Classification. With 2025 on the horizon, the future for this once-experimental grape looks bright. From a crossing project in Professor Perold's garden to becoming an internationally recognized grape variety, Pinotage's journey has been remarkable.

As we toast to 100 years of Pinotage, we celebrate not only its rich history but also the future of this unique grape.